I  pressed the exercise ball against the
gym wall slowly pushing it upward
breathing deeply I repeated to
myself
“God is present now”
“God is present now”
I walked towards the women’s locker
room holding onto that thought intensely
a child sitting in the softly illumined alcove
turned to look at me
brief wordless sweet communion
flashed electrically between us
an angelic expression
emanated from her ivory porcelain face
as if all the cares, joys and sorrows of the world
were bundled up inside her tiny form
…God is present now…God is present now